Shimane Prefecture is rarely on the radar for foreign travelers. When it does, it usually conjures up images of the…
Claudia MitsuboriFebruary 22, 2022
I could try to convince you about the many virtues of Kochi Prefecture (高知県), but instead, I'll leave that to…
Todd FongDecember 23, 2021
During the Edo period (1603-1868), the powerful Tsugaru clan ruled the region around present-day Hirosaki. The city still has a…
Thomas SiebertDecember 21, 2021
There is a lot to discover in the Kanto region around Japan's capital Tokyo, and it can be hard to…
Claudia MitsuboriDecember 14, 2021
When I think of Japan, I often picture a country whose technological and avant-garde side contrasts with a more traditional…
Daniela TravagliniNovember 26, 2021
Kyoto is one of my favorite cities not only in Japan but in the entire world. I love it as…
Burcu BasarNovember 19, 2021
In the eastern area of Kyoto in Higashiyama district, a building full of ancient culture for nearly 800 years goes unnoticed by…
Irene BurriccoSeptember 9, 2021
The legendary island of Enoshima (江ノ島) is just a stone’s throw away (or one hour by train) from Tokyo, and…
Cherise FongAugust 31, 2021
In the culture of traditional Japan, the mountains have always held a deeply spiritual connection to the people. There is…
Todd FongApril 21, 2021
As the world begins its slow return to relative normalcy, you may be one of many ready to scratch that…
Todd FongApril 21, 2021
There are two majority religions in Japan, Shinto and Buddhism, which are part of Japanese people's daily lives. Religion and…
Gaël FaulconnierApril 17, 2021
Sponsored by Tourism Oita Scattered across the Ono River Valley in Oita Prefecture are hundreds of magaibutsu Buddhist figures carved…
Derek YamashitaApril 15, 2021
Nagano (長野) in central Japan is surrounded by stunning mountain ranges where the mighty Chikuma River joins the Sai. It…
Mark WebsterMarch 13, 2021
When my mother decided to visit me in Japan at the end of the year, she asked for one thing:…
Joachim DucosFebruary 25, 2021
This is Part 1 of a 3 part series of articles about the New Golden Route, a part of Japan…
Lucia TsujiguchiFebruary 12, 2021
This is Part 3 of a 3 part series of articles about the New Golden Route, a part of Japan…
Toshiko SakuraiFebruary 12, 2021
As the capital of Niigata Prefecture northwest of Fukushima, Niigata City sits on the west coast of Japan. The city…
Richard MilnerFebruary 10, 2021
The man approached the 200-year-old Buddhist Temple from the street, waving to us as he passed beneath the stone gate.…
Todd FongJanuary 28, 2021
Not far from Kobe City in Hyogo prefecture, is the onsen resort of Arima Onsen (有馬温泉). With a history dating…
Claudia MitsuboriNovember 28, 2020
From popular tourist spots to small picturesque villages, travelling by bike or by ferry to the Seto Inland Sea (瀬戸内海)…
Marion PontOctober 7, 2020
Close your eyes and imagine a path in the middle of a mountain, surrounded by trees of red, ocher and…
Lucia TsujiguchiAugust 30, 2020
When exploring Kyoto, Japan's cultural capital, a trip to Arashiyama (嵐山) is part of every traveler's bucket list. Located in…
Luca DenserAugust 27, 2020
Spiritual, contemplative places are abundant in Japan. With tiny sanctuaries just around the corner and gorgeous UNESCO world heritage sites…
Marion PontAugust 25, 2020
Osaka is famous across Japan for its delicious cuisine, vibrant nightlife, and friendly people. It’s a crazy city full of…
Lucia TsujiguchiJune 15, 2020
Matsuyama in Shikoku, Japan is known for the Dogo Onsen, but also as a stop on the Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail.…
Yvonne TanakaApril 6, 2020
Japan is a country of lists. Top five cities. Top ten shrines. Top 100 ramen joints… you get the picture.…
Mika CunninghamMarch 14, 2020
Living in Tokyo is amazing, but at the same time, such a big metropolis can be overwhelming. Experiencing the rural…
Maria PeñascalMarch 9, 2020
